The Fellowship of the Unashamed

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  The dye has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure.  I'm finished and done with low living, small planning,

smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by FAITH, lean on HIS presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor with power.

My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed.  I will not finch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up and shut up or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ.  I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me.  And when He returns for His own He will have no problem recognizing me.  My banner will be clear.

~President Henry B. Eyring

"I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go"

Hey!

So this is really strange. I dont feel like Im coming home yet. Yesterday at church was the first time it really hit me. The closing hymn was "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go." Tears streamed down my face as I then realized I would be leaving this place that I love with all of my heart. I am excited to see all of you though, and I know coming home will be better than I think it will be (hopefully).

Im going to try to keep this e-mail short because I have a ton to get done today. But I wanted to share a couple cool experiences that happened this week. Remember when my companion and I spoke at the local college? Well, some of the YSAs who go to school there started an LDS Student Association. They invited us to come to the college to help them set up a booth and talk to students about the church. It was a great experience! Both of the girls who started the club are recent converts so it was cool to see them do missionary work! We gave out a lot of mormon.org pass along cards and talked with a few who were even interested in learning more. I was thinking about how nervous I would have been before my mission about talking to my peers about the church. I now have no reservations whatsoever. I hope that I'll continue to be fearless after I come home.

Yesterday we had an awesome sacrament meeting! I told a story last week about taking a ysa, David, teaching with us. Well, he is going on a mission next week so he gave his farewell talk. It was probably the best Ive ever heard. He's 24 years old and was inactive for ten years. He talked about his Mother and how her prayers were the reason why he came back to church. It was on Mother's Day last year that his mom asked him to come to church for her Mother's Day present. He reluctantly agreed. He was going to go as he was, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. But he said he felt prompted to go up and change into a suit. He said that when he walked outside, wearing a suit, his mom and sister were cheering. From that day forward he never missed another sacrament meeting and he decided to go on a mission! Isnt that story awesome! The Atonement really is for everyone. He's going to be a great missionary.

Well, I'd better wrap up. But I'll take this one last opportunity to bear my testimony to you all as a full time missionary. My mission has been the best year and a half FOR my life. I can honestly say, with all of my heart,  that I've come to love this gospel more than anything. I understand my purpose and how I can help others reach their potential. I know now, who I can become if I continue to live righteously. I'll close with one of my favorite scriptures. (This took place here in Ohio!) Doctrine and Covenants 76:22 "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of Him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of Him: That He lives!"

Love you all!

SISTER Kingston